Anticholinergic syndrome after ingestion of Angel's Trumpet tea

Reports of accidental alkaloid-intoxications with plants of the nightshade family, in particular Datura-species are well known in pediatric care. The intentional abuse as a hallucinogenic drug in adolescents became more frequ ent in recent years. Two patients, a 14- resp. 16-year old boy were admitte d to the intensive care units of our hospitals because of a severe central anticholinergic syndrome after ingestion of tea from Angel's Trumpet blosso ms for experimental reasons. Patient's history in the first somnolent patie nt was not available at the time of admission, a routine immunological drug screening of the patient's urine had been negative. Discussion: Prominent central nervous symptoms as unconsciousness or halluc inations in adolescents without further explanation should suggest a specia l toxicological analysis for tropan-alcaloids e.g, scopolamine because of i ncreasing abuse of plants containing the drug.